Triple Play Baseball - Walkthrough/FAQ

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Triple Play Baseball FAQ/Strategy Guide
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By Matt Hulbert
Version: Final/sent July 17, 2002
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/4150.html
Hello and welcome to this unofficial FAQ/Strategy Guide for Triple Play
Baseball, on the Playstation 2. This game has taken a very bad rap from
baseball fans on the PS2, but all I have to say is, compare this to All Star
Baseball 2002, and you have nothing to complain about. I nice hitting and
fielding engine, as well as a user friendly draft/transaction menu, make this a
game that's great for just the occasional renter, and a big baseball fan
looking to do a full 160 game season. The purpose of this guide is to help
people with anything they might need. If you still have questions after you use
the guide, please feel free to email me. However, if you only wish to email me
you opinion of why you don't like the game, save it, I don't care.
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/ / / ___/ _ | T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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1.) Getting Started with the Game
2.) Game Modes and Options
3.) Tips for Winning Games
4.) How to Draft a Winning Team
5.) Miscellaneous Information
6.) Contributor Credits
7.) Copyright Information
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/ / / ___/ _ | 1.) Getting Started with the Game
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I'm really hoping that everyone knew how to get the game started up and figured
out the controls; if not maybe you shouldn't be playing...
? Pitching: Pitching is a big part of the game obviously. There are 3 different
types of pitchers. SP, starting pitchers: these are the guys who you start the
game with, and one of them should be your ace. It's a good outing if you can
manage to keep them in until like the 7th or 8th inning, since they have to go
at least 5 to get the win. Your relief pitchers (RP), are going to come in when
your starter gets into trouble and its to early to bring in your closer. Your
closer, or CP comes in, in like the 8th or 9th inning to just completely shut
down the opponent. Most of the closers throw extremely hard and just blow the
ball by batters.
? Batting: The batting for this game is pretty simple and easy compared to how
All Star Baseball makes you do it. Just use your swing indicator to where you
think the ball is go. If you hit a ball that is in the middle (the red circle)
you will hit it much better. If you are playing with the pitch aid on, make
sure you play on like hard, so you don't just keep hitting homeruns.
? Fielding: The throwing is a little odd for this game when you first start
out, because you have to use the correct amount of force for the throw.
Basically, this just means that when you have to throw the ball hard, you want
to hit X harder or hold it longer. It is the same way as you do to make the
pitcher throw the ball harder. It is essential that you do this, or you won't
be able to turn double plays or make long throws from the outfield.
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/ / / ___/ _ | 2.) Game Modes and Options
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Game Modes >
Quick Start: This is just a single random game, the computer will
pick all of the teams and stuff, all you have to do
is play the game.
>
Single Game: This is a little more customized than just the quick
start, since you actually pick your teams and the
stadium you will play in.
>
Full Season: This is a full major league season, you will play
how
ever many games you set it to, and then try to make
the play offs. You can do a draft or just use teams
already on the game.
>
BL Challenge: This is kind of like an elaborated home run derby.
Pick as many players as you want (up to 8) and they
compete in a game where they have 3 outs an inning,
and see who hits the most homeruns in the game.
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/ / / ___/ _ | 3.) Tips for Winning Games
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This section is basically just random tips and strategy that you can look over
to improve your performance in games. If you have anything you would like to
add to this section, please feel free to contribute it.
? Double Plays
Obviously the double play is two very easy outs. If you have a runner on first,
and not more than 1 out, throw him low junk, like curve balls and sinkers. This
will usually produce a groundball, which you should be able to turn. If there
are no outs, and runners on first and second, go to third then second or first,
because if you cant get out of the inning you at least want to cut off the lead
runners and still get the 2 outs.
? Protecting Hitters
This might seem silly in a video game, or you might not even know what it means
if your not into baseball. Protecting a hitter means you put your best hitter
in like the third spot, then your second best hitter in the fourth spot, this
way they have to pitch to the 3rd spot, since intentionally walking or hitting
the 3rd spot only leads to the 4th, who is a good hitter to and gives them a
runner on base.
? Getting to Batters
Alright, if it's a close game, and say for example there is a runner on second
and if he scores you lose. Right now, Ken Griffey Jr. is batting and there are
2 outs, and he's had your number all night. What do you do? If you said pitch
to him, chances are you lost the game. Since the computer does not protect
their batters, look to see who the next batter in the line up is, hopefully if
it's the end of the game your closer is in anyway to shut them down. If the
batter behind him is not nearly as good just bean Junior and then pitch to him.
Hopefully that made sense.
? Smart Pitching
This basically just means to make it as hard for the batter to hit the ball as
possible. One, don't throw high pitches on a consistent basis. It's ok every
once in a while to challenge a batter with a pitcher like Randy Johnson or
Pedro Martinez, using their heat, but not with some crappy guy you got of
waivers. Keep the ball low and away when your throwing off speed, this will
usually get foul outs or ground balls. Depending on whose pitching, you might
to come low and inside with the heat and then low and away with the change up.
Don't pull a pitcher unless you really need to, you never know how the game
will turn, and you might wish you had an extra pitcher. If your hitting is
extremely good, you might want to think about trading a batter you don't really
need, and get another great closer, to act as a jam guy, and then still have to
other to close the games.
? Hits not always HR's
Every time you come up to the plate you don't have to hit a home run. Sometimes
hits can be strategically better than homers anyway. If you have the bases
loaded and your all-star hitter up, ok go for the slam. BUT, if you have your
2ns basemen up, and he's slow little guy whose just fast and has no power, go
for the RBI single or double. Its not worth the chance, when 8/10 times he will
just pop out if you try to go long with him.
? Tricky Throws
Sometimes people your playing against or the computer will make a runner act
like they're going to try to score just so you will throw the ball to home and
they can get the runner they have on first to second base. This is a big
mistake; don't ever throw the ball home unless you're absolutely positive he
has committed to going. If your guy has the arm to throw him out, you'll get
him anyway. Do not be fooled by this.
? Pick Offs
The longer you wait and try to pick a runner off the worse and worse the
chances of you doing it get. You have to try to catch the runner when he is
actually in the middle of his steps off the back, so you can't just jump back,
he actually has to stop moving one way and start the other. This is really the
only way your ever going to catch someone. Be careful, if you have errors on,
balls being thrown away are a possibility.
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/ / / ___/ _ | 4.) How to Draft a Winning Team
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Probably one of the coolest features in the game is the ability to draft your
team. This kind of makes the game much more realistic, and then you don't have
the quilt that usually comes with knowing you did an unfair trade. There are
some guidelines you want to follow when drafting a team. Here is my set of them
that I try to use when drafting. Note: This is obviously not the only way.
A basic summary of my guide to drafting would be, that you don't have to have 9
all-stars out on the field, if you can get your hands on 3-4 all-star hitters
and at least one above average pitcher you've got yourself a very good team.
_________________________
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| First Picks to Consider |
|_________________________|
? Catchers
There is a very serious shortage of all-star catchers, so getting a chance to
take one is a great opportunity. You might be thinking that a catcher isn't
going to win the game for you, but actually a catcher CAN be the centerpiece of
a team. Guys like Mike Piazza, Jorge Posada and Ivan Rodriguez are all worthy
number one picks.
? Short Stops
The short stop position is basically as deprived of all-stars as the catcher
position. This is another position where you can build an entire team around
this player, although you most likely won't have to. Alex Rodriguez, Derek
Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra are all great picks, although the only one really
worthy of a #1 pick is Arod, who is all around the best player in baseball.
? Ace Pitchers
These are usually what the computer is going to try to draft first. Odds are
unless you have a very high pick, your not going to get guys like Randy
Johnson, Curt Schilling or Pedro Martinez. That's ok, if pitchers like this are
not available, move on. You can always get better hitting and trade if you have
to.
____________________
| |
| Get Those Hitters! |
|____________________|
? Outfielders
Usually a lot of your power is going to come from some high profile hitters in
the outfield. The computer will usually go for pitching the first couple
rounds, and you can usually get your hands on some great players with your 2nd
to 3/4th picks. Guys like Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, Barry
Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr, Andruw Jones, and Carl Everett are all big homerun
hitters. A good thing about Griffey is, he kind of had an off year before the
game came out, so he is only ranked 90, which means he might be there for a
while. HOWEVER, he is still a great hitter on the game.
NOTE: If you have a chance to take one of the third basemen mentioned in the
section below, take them before a 1st basemen, since they are much harder to
come across. BUT, if its NOT one of the ones below, just go with a better 1st
basemen.
? First Basemen
Once you've taken maybe a SS and a CC and a couple big time outfielders you
need to get over here and get some First Basemen. These might be your 4th or
even 5th power hitter depending on who you took, and this could be the real
hitter who brings your team into all-star status. Guys like Jason Giambi, Mark
Macgwire, Rafael Palmerio, Todd Helton, and Carlos Delgado are all great
additions in the hitting department.
? Third Basemen
Hopefully you read the note above. Third base definitely has a shortage of
talent, kind of like SS, but not to that extent. Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus
are the only third basemen I would take if there are all guys like the ones
mentioned in the first basemen section available.
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| |
| Filling in Positions |
|______________________|
Well by now you probably have all the great players you're going to get. Now
its time for forage through all the positions and try to get the average
players that you can possibly trade, or just have them fill in the other
positions.
? Pitching
If you didn't get your hands on any ace pitchers, that's ok because you most
likely have a great hitting team, and trading one of them for an ace is ok. Now
you are going to have to try to fill in your relief pitching spots, get a
decent closer and find the rest of your starting rotation. Don't worry if your
pitching staff is the 5 greatest of all time, if you followed my plan (which is
obviously a run scoring team) you can give up a few runs and still comfortably
win ball games.
? Second Base
I didn't mention this position in the hitters section, because there is only
one very good hitting 2nd basemen on this game, Jeff Kent. However, although it
would be nice to have him along with your other hitters, he is not as good as
what was mentioned above, so don't worry about it. If you can just get someone
like Delino Deshields who is fast and can put the ball in play.
? Back-Ups
Now the computer is going to make you go through all the crap that's left over
and fill in the rest of your draft spots. Just take the highest ranked players
you can find (which won't be very high). Once this is done, you can go and make
any trades you want to and set your lineup and stuff.
*Remember, if you want a season to be realistic, only do trades the computer
deems fair for the other team. Otherwise you just wasted your time with a draft
and made the game less realistic.*
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/ / / ___/ _ | 5.) Miscellaneous Information
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Here is my team roster that I was able to draft:
SP: Pedro Martinez
CP: John Rocker
C : Mike Piazza
1B: Jim Thome
2B: Jose Vidro
3B: Edgar Martinez
SS: Nomar Garciaparra
LF: Darin Erstad
CF: Tori Hunter
RF: Larry Walker
If anyone thinks they have honestly drafted a better core group (Yes I mean
just from your draft, no trades or anything.) feel free to send it in, and if
its better I'll put it up here.
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/ / / ___/ _ | 6.) Contributor Credits
/_/ /_/ /____/================================================================
-+- Jeff Veasey -+- http://www.gamefaqs.com
As I have said in almost every single one of my guides, you have to thank the
big guy who made all of this even possible. And yes I'm still trying to make my
art as good as his, and no it's not working.
-+- Devin Morgan -+- http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/3579.html
As I have said many times, he is one of my best GameFAQ's friends (1 of 2).
Might be the most established writer on the site, and he is very close to
taking the number one ranking from another friend of mine. Good luck to him in
reaching the 10mb mark before he retires, which will hopefully not be for a
long time.
-+- Colin Moriarty -+- http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/4280.html
Well not quite as close to the 10mb plateau as Devin, but he's still a best
friend none the less. A fellow history buff, Colin is rapidly approaching 4mb,
and all the best wishes to him in reaching that before the end of the year like
he had planned.
-+- Meowthnum1 -+- http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/11356.html
Keep an eye out for this guys guides, he hasn't been writing long, but the
stuff he does have it great. He goes to UF, so you know he's a smart guy, and
he likes the Strokes, so he's even smarter. And to cap it all off he gets to
work at EB, hell'uva guy.
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/ / / ___/ _ | 7.) Copyright Information
/_/ /_/ /____/================================================================
? This guide is the property of the author/owner Matt Hulbert. This guide is
protected under International Copyright Laws, as well as the Berne Copyright
act of 1976. Any questions regarding the disclaimer listed below should be sent
to the author of this guide, along with any permission seeking messages.
? This guide is for your personal and private use only. This guide may never be
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? The information in this guide was all compiled or created by the author in a
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? According to my contributor policy, anything that someone contributes becomes
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